All Chapters of BENEATH THE SURGEON’S BLADE: Chapter 41 - Chapter 47

“That’s good to hear. I’m sure your grandfather will be pleased to hear those words from you,” Mang Damian said warmly, a genuine smile spreading across his face. His tone carried a mix of pride and relief, as if he could sense that Celeste was beginning to open up and embrace her new environment. Celeste felt a small flicker of comfort in his words, knowing that her grandfather’s approval meant a lot not only to him but also to her. The simple affirmation from Mang Damian made the long journey feel a little lighter, as if the weight of her worries had momentarily lessened.The trip from SJU to the mansion took about an hour, the roads winding through familiar neighborhoods and stretches of greenery. Because they had to drop off Pauline along the way, the travel time stretched a bit longer than usual, giving Celeste more moments to reflect quietly. She chose to keep herself occupied by gazing out the window, watching the scenery blur past—trees swaying gently in the breeze, cars movi

“What instructions did he give you—are you going to text him or call him?” Pauline asked in quick succession as they walked toward the CAS building.“He didn’t say anything. Anyway, Pau, just leave it. Let’s just go see him so I can get this over with,” Celeste replied, ending the topic.“Okay, sure. I’ll just be on the bench outside. I’ll wait for you,” Pauline told her.Celeste glanced at Pauline and smiled. “Even though you always argue with me when it comes to Sir Marcus, you’re still here for me,” she said, grinning widely, followed by a soft laugh.Pauline just laughed at that. “After your presentation, let’s eat,” she suggested.“Sure, no problem. Let’s have pancit at the canteen, my treat,” Celeste answered.A sweet smile spread across Pauline’s lips. Honestly, despite all the times Pauline sided with Marcus, it never changed the fact that she was still Celeste’s closest friend.“Do your best, okay?” Pauline encouraged.Celeste simply nodded at her friend, then knocked on the

Pauline tilted her head slightly, her broad smile radiating amusement and subtle warning at the same time. “Your Grandfather might get mad,” she said thoughtfully, pausing to let the weight of her words sink in. “You know, being a Congressman isn’t a joke. And you, as his granddaughter—” she stopped mid-sentence, letting the unspoken words hang between them like a gentle tease. There was a glint of mischief in Pauline’s eyes, a playful way of testing Celeste’s curiosity without revealing everything.Celeste’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, her confusion evident. “What?” she asked, leaning slightly forward, her voice carrying a mix of intrigue and disbelief. Her heart began to race ever so slightly, the sudden tension making the mundane surroundings of the canteen feel charged with suspense. She couldn’t deny that something important was hidden in Pauline’s pause, something she desperately wanted to know, yet didn’t yet have the courage to fully demand.A surge of curiosity overwhelmed

“It’s been quite a while since we last did something like this,” said Juliana.It was Sunday when her mother invited her to go out to the mall. Mario, at that time, was at home, busy finishing a report for his conference the next day.“Yeah, it’s just a shame Papa isn’t here,” she said as she gazed at her mother’s beautiful face.They were at a fast-food restaurant then, eating Juliana’s favorite spaghetti and fried chicken. Her mother, Juliana couldn’t say she had grown up with a silver spoon in her mouth, but neither did she come from a poor family. What she found amusing and endearing about her mom was that her favorite foods hadn’t changed since the old days, and she never forgot them. It was one of the many wonderful traits Juliana really loved about her.“Oh, why?” Juliana asked, perhaps noticing the way he was staring at her.Marcus shook his head several times. “I just thought, Papa is really lucky to have you, Ma,” he admitted.Her mother let out a soft laugh. “I’m lucky to ha